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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

Pastors Conference rejects SBC EC request for lineup changes

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM)—The Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference has declined a request from the SBC Executive Committee to change its lineup of speakers and entertainers. The SBC EC passed a resolution offering the pastors group use of the 2020 SBC Annual Meeting spaces in Orlando if it made changes to its proposed program, which was described as “sufficiently beyond the parameters of the faith and practice of Southern Baptists,” and made a payment of $100,000 (only a partial reimbursement of the actual cost of the facilities). Instead, the Pastors’ Conference, which has always been treated as a friend of the SBC although it has not official status with the denomination, said the First Baptist Church in Orlando, would pay the full cost for use of the spaces but not make any lineup changes. The amount of the full cost for use of the facilities has not been publicly released. David Uth, chairman of the Pastors’ Conference, also is pastor of First Orlando. It is not clear if the SBC EC will agree to this counter offer. At dispute are a number of platform personalities including David Hughes, pastor of Church by the Glades in Coral Springs, Florida. His Southern … [Read more...]

LBC pastor creates network to stop SBC’s leftward drift

By Will Hall, Message Executive Editor BOSSIER CITY, La. (LBM)—Brad Jurkovich, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Bossier City, announced on Valentine’s Day the launching of the Conservative Baptist Network, a grassroots movement of Southern Baptists “concerned about the current direction and perceived future of the Convention.” In just three days, more than 3,200 churches and individuals had signed onto the initiative to restore conservative Southern Baptist views of Scripture, Jurkovich told the Baptist Message. CONSERVATIVES Jurkovich is joined in leadership of the movement by a number of pastors and laymen, but two of the most prominent supporters are: Rod Martin, described as a “tech guru” by Fox Business News and noted especially for his work as a member of the startup team that developed and launched PayPal, and who serves as a member of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee; and, Chuck Kelley, a longtime Southern Baptist leader who recently retired after serving 24 years as president of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. BATTLING RADICAL IDEAS During a radio broadcast about the announcement Jurkovich told Todd Starnes, a conservative Southern Baptist, formerly with Fox News, … [Read more...]

Archer shares how to live in Christ’s victory

By My Sherie Johnson PINEVILLE, La. (Wildcats Media) – How to live in Christ’s victory poses a serious question for Christians facing difficult situations, even persecution. Jess Archer shared insights from 1 Peter 4:1-11 in this regard during the Feb. 6 chapel service at Louisiana College. “What does it mean to live out Christ’s victory?” asked Archer. “In order to have victory in Christ, a person has to know where they are in Christ, be obedient, and surrender to what Christ is doing in their life,” she explained. “The Lord can do a lot of things with all believers, but when that surrendered and obedient Christian says, ‘Lord, I’ll follow you in whatever way,’ that is when He gets the glory.” Believers should remember Christ’s sacrifice and struggle to have hope through their struggles. Archer recommends anyone living in the flesh to confess and turn away from that sin, sit down with mature believers for guidance, pray, and study Scripture. “We need to understand what Christ has already done on the cross, and know that the victory has already been won,” Archer said. “I was super encouraged by today’s message,” said senior Convergence Media Major Chloe Berthelot. “I think the Gospel was really clearly presented … [Read more...]

Memorial service scheduled for disaster relief worker

By Message Staff EUNICE – A memorial service for Mel Granger, a Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer with the Acadia Baptist Association shower and laundry unit, will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, February 22, at North Eunice Baptist Church in Eunice. According to Pastor Marvin Jones, also a professor at Louisiana College, Granger died Sunday, Feb. 16, after he sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident two days earlier. Granger was a member of North Eunice Baptist Church. Jones told the Baptist Message Granger will not have a burial to honor his request that he be cremated in the event of his death.   … [Read more...]

Wildcats Media/Debate win awards

By LC Media Staff PINEVILLE, La. - Louisiana College convergence media students participated in the 2020 Southeast Journalism Conference held Feb. 13-15 at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This year nearly 300 students from 31 colleges and universities across the Southeast participated in 15 on-site competitions and heard from Pulitzer-prize winning photojournalist Ted Jackson and Cathy Straight, executive editor for CNN Digital, in a three-day conference.  In addition to the onsite competition, SEJC recognizes work collegiate journalists have done over the previous year, ranking the best work as Best of the South. Louisiana College student winners include: Best of the South: Alena Noakes              9th place, College Journalist of the Year Joel Thompson            3rd place, Opinion-Editorial Writer Aaron Quartemont     2nd place, Hard News Radio Reporter On-site competition: Jerry Clark                   2nd place, Radio News Reporting The Wildcat Debate team competed in the 12th Annual Eddy Shell Invitational at Bossier Parish Community College Feb. 14-16. Trinity Baugh was awarded second-place speaker and advanced to the finals in novice debate, losing … [Read more...]